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Eddy County commissioners gets look at plans for sheriff's new digs

By Stella Davissdavis@currentargus.com

Posted:
02/20/2013 07:05:44 AM MST

After recovering from sticker shock on the estimated cost of new offices for the sheriff's department, the Eddy County Commission believes the cost can be brought down to come within the budgeted $8.7 million for the facility.

Albuquerque architect Van Gilbert, whose firmed was awarded the bid to design the facility, presented the commission with the schematic plans and attributed the estimated $1.3 million overage in the design to under-estimated costs of the site work.

Last year, the commission hired NCA Architects to conduct needs assessment for the facility and according to Gilbert, the site work came in at $509,760. However, Gilbert said in reality, the project requires more site work that would cost $946,144 more than NCA estimated.

In addition, Gilbert estimated additional costs for the main sheriff's office, evidence rooms and office equipment.

"About 75 percent of the cost is generally the site work," Gilbert said.

Gilbert advised the commission that it should prioritize and eliminate items in the plans that are not absolutely essential. He suggested that before the project goes out for the construction bid, the county come up with different options in the bid specifications.

He said the county could cut down on the number of covered parking spots. He said he included 64 covered parking spots - the department's entire fleet of vehicles.

Asked by the commission if he needs all 64 vehicles parked under cover, Sheriff Scott London said he had no objection to whittling down the number to 12 spots.

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"We would need at least a dozen covered parking spots for when deputies are on duty and when we have generally the most manpower," he said.
London also said he had no objection to cutting down the number of parking spaces in front of the building. In his design, Gilbert added 50 parking spaces. But London said he could live with at least 30. He said during training classes, there would be a need for more parking, both for officers and visitors.

Gilbert also suggested the commission could cut down the cost by reducing the size of the property to be fenced.

However, Commissioner Tony Hernandez said he would prefer that the entire property be fenced at the time of construction rather than having to tear down the fencing sometime in the future if there was need for expansion of the facilities.

After further discussion, the commission instructed London to sit down with the architect and see where cuts can be made to bring down the cost.
Commission Chairman Jack Volpato said when he first saw the cost estimate submitted by Gilbert, it took him by surprise. However, after Gilbert explained why his cost estimate came in over budget, he has a better grasp of the project.